Switch



May 22, 1934.

Filed Dec. l5, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORN 1 1' A. D. BUTLER May 22, 1934.

SWITCH Filed Dec. 13, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WedEzM/ef 37 6 l 4 J3 a Tw if 3 3 J T u m 6 9 a, 3 HW Patented May 22, 1934A UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a switch for making and breaking a circuit primarily adaptable for controlling an ignition circuit of a motor vehicle but which may Vbe conveniently employed in circuits for other purposes, and has for the primary object, the provision of a device of the above stated character which is controlled by permutation means whereby the device may-be locked in circuit breaking position whenever desired.

With these and other objects in view this invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which I Figure l is a vertical sectional view illustrating a switch constructed in' accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation partly in section illustrating the same.

Figure 3 is a sectional 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken view taken on the line l on the line 4 4 of Figure 1 illustrating permutation locking means.

Figure 5 is' a side elevation partly in section illustrating one of thepermutation discs.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a side elevation illustrating another permutation disc.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8Aof Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 7 illustrating another permutation device.

Figure v10 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 10 10 'of Figure 9. lFigure 11 is a fragmentary plan view illustrat- 'ing a modication of my invention. l

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken on the line 12-12 of Figure 11.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a casing constructed from anymaterial lsuitableA for the purpose and having a. removable cover 2 and a removable rear-wall 3 .for the purpose of permitting the assembly of the switch and lockingmeans therefor within the casing. One of the end walls of thecasing is provided with openings 4 to admit to the interior of the casing electrical conductors 5 `of an electric circuit and one of the conductors is connected to a stationary contact 6 mounted lon said end wall of the casing, 'while the other conductor is connected to a movable contact 7 adiustably secured to a switch arm- 8. The switch arm consists of portions 9.and 10 dis- (Cl. 20o-165) posed angularly to eachother and said switch arm is constructed from a pair of members provided with journals to receive a shaft 11 carried by a support 12 detachably secured to the bottom wall of the casing. 'I'he portion 9 of the switch arm 8 is located at one side of the bracket 12. while the portion 10 is located at the opposite side of the bracket.v yThe members of the portion 10 of the switch arm are spaced a con` `siderable distance apart and are connected by bars 13 and 14. 'I'he switch arm during its movement to engage and disengage the contacts is movable between spaced guide pins 15 carried by the cover 2. The shaft 11 carried by the support 12 extends through Vthe front wall of the casing and has journaled thereon a locking dog 16. The support 12 also rotatably supports a. shaft 17 which extends through the front wall of the casing and has secured thereto a holding disc 18 provided with a notch 19 to receive the dog 16 for locking the shaft 17 against rotation in one direction. Diverging arms 20 and 21 are integrally connected and form at their point of connection an attaching collar 22 receiving the shaft 17 andisecured to the latter by a pin 23. The arm 21 extends downwardly from the shaft 17 and has its free end connected to a coil spring 24 which is in turn connected to the bar 14. 'I'he arm 20 extends upwardly from the shaft 17 and terminates above the portion 10 of the switch arm 8 and has connected to its free end coil springs 25 and 26. The lspring 25 is connected to the shaft 11 and the spring 26 is-connected to the bar 14. The holding disc 18 for the shaft 17 also forms a linger piece for shifting the position of the arms 20 and 21. By

tion 'the arms 20 and 21 are caused to move downwardly placing an increased tension on the springs 24 and 25, causing of the switch arm 8, the portion 10 thereof moving downwardly and the portion 9 moving upwardly to bring the contact 7 thereof into engagement with the contact 6 to complete the circuit, as shown in` Figure 1. To retain the switch arm in the stated position the dog 16 is moved into the notch 19 of the holding disc for vpreventing a reverse rotation" of thel shaft 17.

Upon freeing of the dog 16 from theenotch 19,

the spring 25 actsv upon the arm 20, swinging the latter upwardly and placing tension on the spring 26, causing the latter to act on the portion 10 of the switch arm and swing said portion 10 upwardly, the portion 9 swinging to disengage thecontact 7 from the contact 6, and interrupt the circuit.

A permutation means 27 is located in the casing and normally prevents the switch arm 8 from moving into circuit-closing position. However, whenl said permutation means is manually a pivotal movement manipulated it will permit said switch arm to move into circuit-'closing position for the purpose of closing the circuit. The permutation means 27 consists of a dial 28 having -a finger piece 29 mounted for rotation within a dial mounting 30v located `in an opening in the front wall of the casing.V The dial mounting 30 has a zero character marking thereon, as shown in Figure 2,-

while the dial 28 has a series of characters to aid in solving the combination of the Apermutation means. The dial mounting 30 is flanged to engage the outer face of the front wall of the casing and is providedV with screw threads to receive a retaining ring 32 engageable with the inner face of the front wall of the casing whereby the mounting is clamped in place on the front wall of the casing. A dial shaft 33 is secured to the dial 28 and is received in a'sleeve 34 threaded to a mounting or bearing 35 carried by the removable rear wall of the casing. Permutation discs 36, 37 and 38 are journaled on the vsleeve 34 and arranged in spaced relation being retained in such position by spacing collars 39 secured to the sleeve by a set screw. The hub of the disc 36 is formed with an extension which is constructed to form a split clamp 40 having al set screw 41 whereby the split clamp may bc caused to frictionally grip the dial shaft 33,

thereby locking the disc 36 for rotation with the shaft 33 in either direction. .Each disc in its periphery is provided with a notch 42 and the notches of said discs during the proper manipulation ofthe permutation means are causedto aline beneath the bar 13 of the switch arm so that when the portion 10 of the switch arm is swung downwardly to cause closing of the circuit the bar 13 moves into the alined notches 42, and when the discs have been positioned to 'move the notches out of alinement, the portion 10 of the switch arm strikes the periphery of one or more discs and is prevented from moving downwardly and consequently prevents the portion 9 from swinging upwardly to engage the contacts for completing the electric circuit.

The disc 36 upon one face is provided with a circular series of screw-threaded openings 43,

and the disc 37 upon its opposite faces is provided With a. series of openings 44- similar to th'e openings 43, one face of the disc 38 being provided with a series of openings45 similar to the openings 43. 'I'he purpose of the openings 43, 44 and 45 is to permit the connection of driving means 46to said discs and also permit said driving means to be adjusted as to location on the respective discs for the purpose of changing the combination of the permutation means. The driving means during the manipulation of the dial 28 are adapted to engage each other so that the disc 36 transmits motionto the disc 37 and the latter disc transmits motion to the disc 38 for the purpose of alining the` notches 42 and moving the notches out of alinement.

Each driving means consists of a threaded plug ment a plate 50 on which-a flange 51 -is formed, said flange extending through theslot 49. The

flange 5l is adapted to contact. with the correlspending flange of the adjacent driving means.V

If desired, the driving means may consist of a screw threaded shank 52 for threaded connection with any one of the'openings and has a tapered head or flange 53.

By changing or repositioning the driving means 46 on their respective discs the combination of the permutation means may be easily varied or changed. v To prevent accidental rotation of the discs 37 or 38 by friction, a contact roller 54 is mounted'in the casing and engages the4 peripheries of the discs with sufficient pressure toprevent the accidental movement of the discs while permitting said discs to revolve or turn whenl vmanually noved by manipulation of the dial 28.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that minor changes in construction,

combination .and arrangement of parts may be `made without departing `fromy the spirit and scope of my invention, as claimed.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. A switch comprising a casing, a support in the casing, a switch arm pivoted to said support, contacts connected in an electric circuit, one of said contacts being secured to the switch arm and the other contact secured to the casing in the path of movement of the lswitch arm, a shaft journaled to the support and extending through the wall of the casing, a notched finger piece secured to saidlshaft, diverging arms secured to said shaft, avcoil spring connecting one of said arms with the switch arm, coil springs connecting the other arm with said switch arm and with the support, whereby said switcharm will be compelled to move on its pivot by the turning of thenger piece to effect engagement and disengagement of the contacts, and a pivoted dog to engage the finger piece for retaining the switch arm in position to engage the contacts. 4 Y

2. A switch comprising a casing, a support in the casing, a switch arm pivoted to said support, contacts connected in an electirc circuit, one of said contacts being secured to the switch arm and the other contact secured to the casing in the path of movement of the switch arm, a shaft journaled' to the support and extending through the wall of the casing, a notched finger piece secured to said shaft, diverging arms secured to said shaft and extending respectively above and below the switch arm, va coil spring connecting the lower of said arms with the switch arm, coil springs' connecting the other arm with said switch arm and with the support respectively, whereby said switch arm will be 4compelled to move on its pivot by the turning of the finger piece to effect engagement and disengagement of the contacts, and a. pivoted dog to engage the notched finger piece for retaining the switch arm in position to engage the contacts.

ALFRED D. BUTLER. 

